Historic Black Construction Firm Continues Legacy

Black-owned businesses remain significantly underrepresented in the United States. Data from the Census Bureau, analyzed by the Pew Research Center, indicates that only 3% of businesses were majority Black-owned in 2022. Within the construction sector, this figure rises to 6.8%.

McKissack & McKissack, the oldest Black-owned construction company in the nation, stands as a notable exception. Founded in 1905, the firm has completed over $50 billion in projects, including the New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Cheryl McKissack Daniel has served as CEO since 2000, succeeding her mother, and details the company’s history in her book, “The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.”

Early Project Pursuit

In 2000, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, then CEO, learned of real estate developer Bruce Ratner’s plan to purchase the New Jersey Nets and relocate the team to Brooklyn. Recognizing the potential significance of this development, McKissack Daniel immediately sought to involve McKissack & McKissack in the project, viewing it as an opportunity to elevate the company’s profile.

Brooklyn’s History and Significance

The prospect of a basketball team returning to Brooklyn held particular resonance, given the borough’s history and the symbolic departure of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1958. McKissack Daniel believed that a new team could serve as a catalyst for community revitalization in a borough that had faced decades of hardship.

Relationship Building and Strategy

Drawing on her mother’s experience in cultivating relationships, McKissack Daniel began networking and leveraging her connections within Brooklyn’s influential circles. She aimed to secure a role in the development of the new arena, recognizing the importance of relationships in New York’s business landscape.

Book Excerpt

The account is excerpted from Cheryl McKissack Daniel’s book, “THE BLACK FAMILY WHO BUILT AMERICA: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.”